Pogo stick



Jan. 27', 1959 H. l. RAPAPORT 2,871,016

POGO STICK Filed May 9, 1957 J/NVENTOR mwa 02- Y maj/7e?, 6@

2,871,016 Patented Jan. 27, 1959 United j States Patent Oiice PoGo STICKHerman I. Rapaport, Chicago, Ill.` Application May 9, 1957, serial No.658,093

` s claims. (c1. 272-57) This invention relates to improvements in Pogosticks.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a Pogo stick which hasa leg member of supporting pole which is retractable when not in use toreduce the length of the unit to permit shipment and storage of same ina minimum of space.`

Another' object of this invention is to provide `a Pogo stick with aretractable supporting pole which isretractable within the frame of theunit so that the overall length of the unit is substantially the lengthof the frame. This permits mailing of the unit in containers of a lengthto conform to post oce requirements and also enables the unit to beplaced in containers or cartons of considerably less size than if theunit were not thus retracted.

Another object is to provide a Pogo stick in which the spring element iscompletely enclosed thereby eliminating the hazards of soiling theclothes by the lubricant used in connection with the spring and alsoeliminating the hazard of catching the clothing or parts of the body inthe compressable coils of the spring. `The appearance ofthe unit is alsoenhanced thereby. i

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses. t

In the drawings: i j

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partially in cross section showing myPogo stick in extended position ready for use.

Figure 2 is a view of the Pogo stick in collapsed or re` tractedposition as for shipping. r

Figure 3 is a view partially in cross section taken on line 3 3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a view taken on lines 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a View taken on lines 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on lines 6-6 ofFigure 3, and

Figure 7 is an enlargedcross sectional View taken on lines 7--7 ofFigure 2. l

The Pogo stick has a platform for the feet which platform is generallyindicated at 10 and which is formed of two plates or two sections 12joined together. The plates 12 are of identical construction andthe samenumbers will be applied thereto. Each plate is formed with asemicircular central portion 14 so that a central circular opening 16 isprovided when the plates 12 are joined together.

r The upper portions of each of the plates adjacent their struction. Thelower ends of each of the tubular members 32 is slotted as at 34 (Figure7) to t over the platform' 10 and is permanently secured thereto byrivets 36. The

uprights 32 are spaced fromv each other throughout theirlength exceptthat they are inclined inwardly at the top as at 28 for abuttingrelation and there secured together by a` permanent rivet pin 40. Thetubular members turn outwardly to form handles `42 and the handles areprovided with rubber gripping members 44.. A pair of cross bars 46 arepermanently secured by four rivet pins 47 to the tubular members 32 andthe cross bars 46 are each formed to provide a central semi-circularshaped portion 46 which bars together form a central circular opening 49for passage of a leg orsupporting pole 50.

The leg or supporting pole generally indicated at 50 is formed of atubular member and is supported at its upper opposite ends are turnedoutwardly to` provide half disc shaped plates 18 with `a downwardlyextending ange 20, so that a circular disc shaped foot rest 22 isprovided when the two sections are joined together. Each of the plates12 is formed to provide` angular ribs 24 for strengthening the plates.The two plates 12are permanently secured end within the opening 49 ofthe cross bars 46 and is supported at its lowerend within the circularopening 16 of the platform 10. `Supported on the tubular leg or`sup'`porting pole 50 adjacent the cross bars 46fis an inverted cup shapedmember on collar 52 which has an enlarged centralopening 54 in the topthereof for passage of the tubular` pole 50 as best seen in Figure 3. AVcoil spring 56 surrounds the supporting pole 50 and the upper end of thespring is supported within the inverted cup shaped member or collar 52.Supported on the supporting pole adjacent the platform 10 is a cupshaped member or co1- lar 59 best seen in Figure 6, having a bottom 59which has an enlarged central opening 60 for passage of the pole 50. Thelower end of the spring 56 is confined or supported in the cupV shapedmember or collar 58 which istdetachably secured to the supporting poleas will be described.

`The collar S8 extends downwardly of the horizontal bottom 59 of themember andisaid downwardly extending portion is provided with a pair ofaligned oppositelypositioned Slo-ts 64 opening downwardly. Thesupporting pole 50 has a pairof aligned transverse openings 66 whichreceive a threaded fastener 68. The opposite ends of the threadedfastener 68 being received in the slots 64 of the `collar 58 to retainthe collar 58 and prevent it from movi ing downwardly on the supportingpole 50. The pole is provided with a rubber tip 51 at the bottomthereof.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, the spring 56bears against the collar58 but the collar is prevented fronimov-` ing downwardly by virtue ofthe threaded fastener 68. The collar thus forms a base support for thespring 56. Figures l` and 3 show the positionof the supporting pole andthe parts when the Pogo stick is in position for use or play.

The upper end of the supporting pole`50 has a plurality of spaced pairsof aligned transverse openings 70 for rei ceiving a threadedfastener 72which will rest against the top of the cross bars 46 to compress thespring 56. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the spring 56 is held inacompressed position on the supporting pole 50 between the two cupshaped members or collars 521and 58 and the frame of the stick. Theframe generally being formed by the uprights 32 and platform 10. Theframe is supported on the pole 50 under tension and elevated to itsuppermost position in relation to the supporting pole 50. By standing onthe feet support of the platform, the childs weight will move theframedownwardly on the supporting pole 50 and compress spring 56 as thepole 50`rests on the ground or a floor surface. f

Whenthe pole 50 is lifted from the ground or oor surface as is done inplay as is well understood in the art, the frame will move upwardly withrespect to the pole 50 due tothe spring 56 until the pole 50 againstrikes the ground or floor surface and the frame again moves downwardlywith respect to the supporting pole. This` permits the child to hopabout onthe Pogo stick. Normally the threaded fastener 72 `is not used,however to increase the compression of the spring56, the threadedfastener r72 is inserted v in any of the transverse openings 70 on thesupporting pole 50.

For best use the springS is lubricated by a grease or oil with someofthe greasem; oil retained in the cup shaped members 52 and 58. .Thelgrease will normally tend to spatter when the` Pogo `stick .is used. Asthe spring 56 compresses and decompresses, there .is also present thedanger of getting `the childs clothing or a part of the body caught inthe spring. To overcome these objections, `there is provided a sleevegenerally indicated at 7.06 which .surrounds thespringS and whoseopposite ends are secured insidethe upper and lower cup shaped membersS2 and-58. The sleeve 76 is made of a Vinylite plastic material which isexible so that as the upper cup shaped member 52 moves -downwardly withthe frame in relation to the lower? xed'eup ymember 58 the sleeve willexalong its length and will-again assume its normal full length positionwhenthe upper cup shaped member 52 is in its uppermost elevatedposition.

yThe overall length of the Pogo stickwheu in its play position is as'shown in Figure l, and is of such length thatproblems are presented inpackaging and shipment of same. Enlarged cartons would berequired addingcosts and space and also `making it impossible to ship through themails. With this invention the foregoing objections are eliminatedasthefsupportingpole 50 may be moved inwardly or `retracted iinside theframe, .reducing the overall length of the unit for shipment-tosubstantially the length of the frame. This is best shown in Figure 2.To accomplish this, the :threaded fastener 68 is withdrawn from pole 50thus releasing the lower collar 58 from its engagement with the pole.and the .pole Suis pushed upwardly or inwardlyinside thefframe as shownin Figure 2.

yDuring shipment the removed threaded fastener 68 may be temporarilyinsertedin any of the openings 74. Also tolreduee thesize of the carton,the rubber foot pads 28 may be removed-fromthefoot members 22fand placedin the carton. The unit isreadyyfor use after removal from tjhecarton bymoving the pole 50'downwardly and inserting the threadedfastener 68 asshown in Figure 1.

In placeofthe threadedfasteners 68 and 72 cotter pins may-beused.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be madefrom the foregoing without departing from the spirit and vscope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A Pogo stick comprising a foot rest, a pair of uprights secured tosaid foot rest,said uprights supporting a handle at the upper endsthereof, an upper cross member secured to s'aiduprights below saidhandle and dening an unobstructed space between said uprights and abovesaid upper cross member and below said handle, an inverted cup shapedmember positioned against said upper crossmember, a .supportingpoleextending between said uprights andv throughsaid inverted cup shapedmember, a lower cup shaped rmember surrounding said pole, a pindetachably secured to said pole, and engaged by said lower cup shapedmember to'limit the downward movement of said lower cup shapedmember, acoil spring surrounding said pole with the opposite ends of the springpositioned in said vaforementioned cup shaped members, said pinwhendetached from said pole adapted to release said lower cup shapedmember from securement to said pole to permit retraction of said poleupwardly between said uprights so .that the upper portion of saidsupporting pole extends into said unobstructed space above said kuppercross .member and belowsaid handle and the lower extremity of the poleis positioned adjacent the foot rest so that substantially the entirepole in said retracted position is located within the length of saiduprights and said foot rest.

2. A Pogo stick comprising a foot rest, a pair of uprights secured tosaid foot rest, said uprights supporting a handle at the upper endsthereof, an upper cross member secured to said uprights below saidhandle and defining an unobstructed space between said uprights andabove said upper cross member and below said handle, an inverted cupshaped member positioned against said upper cross member, a supportingpole extending between said uprights and through said inverted cupshaped member, Va lower cup shaped member surrounding said pole, a pindetachably secured to said pole and engaged by said lower cup shapedmember to limit the downward movement of said lower cup shaped member, acoil spring surrounding said pole with the opposite ends of thespringpositioned in said .aforementioned ,cup shaped members, vsaid pin whendetached from said pole adapted to release said lower cup shaped memberfrom securement to said ,pole

is llocated within the length of said uprights and said foot.

rest, and a sleeve surrounding and enclosing said spring with theopposite ends of the sleeve retained within said cup shaped members.y

3. A Pogo stick comprising a platform formed of two platesljoined.together to forma central guide opening and a pair of spaced circularfoot rests at the opposite ends thereof, a lresilient circular foot paddetachably secured to each said circular foot rest, a pair of uprightssecured at their lower ends to `said platform, said uprights each havinga laterally extending handle at the upper end thereof, an upper crossmember secured to said uprights below said handle members and dening anunobstructed space between said uprights and above saidcross member andbelow said handles, an inverted cup shaped member positioned againstsaid upper cross member, a supporting pole extending between saiduprights and through said upper cross member and saidinverted cup shapedmember and said central guide opening, a lower cup shaped membersurrounding said pole, a pin detachably secured to said pole and engagedby said lower cup shaped member to limit the downward movement of saidlower cup shaped member, a coil spring surrounding said pole with theopposite ends of the spring positioned in said aforementioned cup shapedmembers, said pin when detached from said pole adapted to release saidlower cup shaped member from securement to said pole to permitretraction of said pole upwardly between said uprights so that the upperportion of said pole extends into said unobstructed space above saidupper cross member and below said handles and the lower extremity of thepole is positioned adjacent the platform so that substantially theentire pole in said retracted position is located within the length ofsaid uprights and said platform, and a sleeve surrounding and enclosingsaid spring with the opposite ends of the sleeve Krebs June 18, 1935Hansburg May 21, 1957

